THE Australian men’s hockey team will face India in the final of the Champions Trophy in London tomorrow morning (AEST), a day after beating the same team 4-2.
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Great Britain and Belgium play after the India-Australia fixture.
Australia are heading the league standings with 10 points, followed by India on seven from four matches each.
To qualify for the gold medal match, home favourites Great Britain need Australia to beat India in Thursday’s first match before they in turn require victory against Belgium, a team that now remains in the hunt for a final spot, in the evening game.
India, on the other handed, needed the Britain-Belgium match to end in a draw to get to the second place – and consequently to its maiden Champions Trophy finals.
India lock horns with Australia in Champions Trophy 2016 today at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrows match, we don’t know who we’re playing but we’re going to prepare accordingly”.
Title holders Germany are without a victory from four outings, drawing three and losing one. India pulled all 11 players into their own circle in the first quarter and succeeded in denying the rival strikers too much space or time to pose much danger. A draw between the teams will however grant India a spot in the finals.
Australia have already booked a place in the finals, and now they wait for their opponents. The closest they have been was way back in 1982 in Amsterdam.
In the 57th minute, South Korea scored the equalizer to make it 1-1.
“We had a lot of chances up front but we couldn’t convert”, said India striker Manpreet Singh. Later, in another quick counter-attack, a pass from Chinglensana Singh on the the left was met messily by Thimmaiah, as the ball kissed his leg, with only goalkeeper Hong to beat, leading to India’s frustration.
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Kookaburras coach Graham Reid said he was happy with the first three quarters, but that the last quarter was disappointing.
